Medium Rabbit Breed Guide: 7-9 lbs

These rabbits are great for pet owners looking for a larger bunny, but not sure if they can handle a Flemish Giant. They weigh roughly 7-9 lbs, and need plenty of room to roam. This category contains some of the most unique colors available, and many of the breeds are known for their laid back personalities. For each breed, we include the weight, body shape, color, personality/temperament, defining characteristics, and a short description. Keep in mind that the personality/temperament description is a generalization. All bunnies are different!

A big thank you to all the breeders, rescues, and owners that allowed us to use their pictures! If you like what you see, show them some love and check out their instagram listed below each picture, or links in the descriptions.

Not sure what medium breed will suit you best? Click below to take our quiz and find out.

American Sable

Weight: 7-10 lbs

Body Shape: Commercial

Colors: Sable, Siamese Sable

Personality/Temperament: American Sables are known for being sociable, friendly, and relaxed. They love toys and make great pets.

Defining Characteristic: Their dense, beautiful coat (that may require extra grooming) with coloring similar to a Siamese cat.

American Sables originated from litters of American Chinchillas containing sable colored rabbits. Their unique coloring interested breeders, and they were soon recognized as a separate breed. Throughout their history, they have fluctuated in popularity. At their lowest point, they had nearly reached extinction. Luckily, a breeder named All Roerdanz located several rabbits and brought them back into the rabbit show world. They are now a well known breed that continues to increase in population.

Thanks @khalessybunny for providing pictures of this beautiful breed!

Argente Brun

Weight: 8-10.5 lbs

Body Shape: Commercial

Colors: Bleu, Brun, Creme, Noir, and Champagne

Personality/Temperament: Gentle, sweet, and relaxed.

Defining Characteristic: Heavily ticked coat that silvers with age.

An older French breed, Argente Bruns were bred in Europe for their unique coat coloring. They eventually were brought to Canada and the US. Several breeders, primarily Canadian ones, took a liking to the rabbits and developed them further. The ARBA officially recognized them soon after, and they are now considered a heritage breed.

Thank you to @pettibone_urban_game_ for providing pictures!

Belgian Hare

Weight: 6-9.5 lbs

Body Shape: Full Arch

Colors: Chestnut red is the only color recognized by the ARBA, but tan, black, and REW are also available

Personality/Temperament: As you might assume from their physical appearance, Belgian hares are one of the most energetic and excitable of all the rabbit breeds. They need plenty of room to run and jump, and startle easily. Due to skittish nervous nature they are primarily used for breeding and show, but dedicated pet owners love their hares.

Defining Characteristic: Their rich coloring, large size, and full arch.

Belgian hares were originally bred in England for commercial purposes. Despite their name, they are rabbits, not hares. Soon after their importation to America, they gained popularity as show rabbits and sparked the creation of the ARBA. Because of their unique shape and temperament, they are not recommended for beginner rabbit owners. They are fairly fragile and difficult to handle. Loud noises can scare them easily and cause injuries, so precautions must be taken.

Thanks @fiver_rey and @yorkinmanc for providing pictures of their beautiful American fuzzy!

Blanc de Hotot

Weight: 8-10 lbs

Body Shape: Commercial

Colors: Hotots come in one distinct color, white with black rings around their eyes

Personality/Temperament: Hotots are often spunky, energetic, and playful.

Defining Characteristic: Their flawless eyeliner of course.

This unique breed gets its name from the city it originated from, Hotot-en-Auge, Normandy. It was created through the breeding of a White Flemish Giant, White Vienna, and Checkered Giant. Careful breeding isolated the black markings to around the eyes, causing an adorable eyeliner look. They do not require any special care beyond the normal requirements for rabbits of their size, and make great pets.

Thank you to @sarahmacmath and @luna_tequila_ for providing photos of their Hotots!

California

Weight: 8-10.5 lbs

Body Shape: Semi-arch

Colors: Black pointed white

Personality/Temperament: Laid back, friendly rabbits that make interactive pets.

Defining Characteristic: Striking color and lovable personality.

California rabbits were developed with the hope of creating the ideal commercial breed. They originated in California, and were perfected by three breeders. After being recognized by the ARBA, they became widespread across the states and were loved for their practical uses. Many pet owners now adore this breed, and it remains to be relatively popular in several industries.

Thank @somebunnyoncetoldme for providing pictures of Cali!

English Angora

Weight: 5-7.5 lbs

Body Shape: Compact

Colors: A variety, including agouti, shaded, self, and pointed colors.

Personality/Temperament: Curious, relaxed, and friendly.

Defining Characteristic: Lush, long fir that covers even their face.

English Angoras originated in Turkey and were imported across the world for their coveted fur. They are relaxed rabbits with a slightly dog like appearance. Their endearing look makes them a popular choice for pet owners, but it does not come without a price. Many Angoras require at least an hour of grooming weekly. For those that would prefer to spend a little less time combing their bunny, their fur can be trimmed and used for yarn.

Thanks to @bonjovibunny and @luna_angorarabbit for providing pictures of their beautiful Angoras!

English Spot

Weight: 5-8 lbs

Body Shape: Full arch

Colors: Black, Chocolate, Gray, Blue, Gold, Lilac and Tortoise

Personality/Temperament: Gentle, friendly rabbits with a spunky side.

Defining Characteristic: Dark dorsal stripe and spotting pattern.

Known for being one of the oldest breeds, English spots were originally bred as show rabbits. Years after their importation to other countries, they were introduced to pet owners. They make wonderful pets, and are a great balance of outgoing and laid back that their owners love. They are medium sized rabbits that should be given adequate room to run and jump for optimal health.

Thanks to @milly.and.maisy and @dottiespottielottierabbits for providing pictures!

French Angora

Weight: 7.5-10.5 lbs

Body Shape: Commercial

Colors: A variety colors in nearly all categories.

Personality/Temperament: Docile, friendly, and relaxed.

Defining Characteristic: Large size and long, soft fur.

One of the oldest breeds, French Angoras were first bred in Turkey and then imported across the world. They were popular with commercial breeders, but their long fur and sweet personalities attracted the attention of pet owners. As with all Angoras, owners must take extra care to ensure their bunnies don’t get wool block and groom their bunnies regularly.

Thank you to @puff.parsons and @hazel_the_bunny__

Harlequin

Weight: 6.5-9.5 lbs

Body Shape: Commercial

Colors: A variety of black, chocolate, and blue based harlequin or magpie patterns.

Personality/Temperament: Friendly, curious, and outgoing rabbits that love to run and explore

Defining Characteristic: Striped fur pattern.

Harlequin is an old breed known for its unique color pattern. They have a friendly, interactive temperament and make great pets. Though they are not the largest breed, they should be given plenty of room to explore. Our own Harlequin, pictured above, was quite the escape artist. He regularly managed to leap his four foot pen until we secured a op over it, and was always ready to try new things.

Thank you to @thor_and_loki_bunnies for providing pictures of their cuties!

Lilac

Weight: 5.5-8 lbs

Body Shape: Commercial

Colors: Lilac

Personality/Temperament: Friendly, relaxed, and calm.

Defining Characteristic: Rich lilac color.

Before the wide variety of rabbit colors we see today had been developed, lilac colored litters were created by two main breeders across the world. One litter was bred using a Beveren and a Havana, and the other a Blue Imperial and a Havana. Rabbits from these litters were then crossed, creating the Lilac breed that was soon recognized by the ARBA. They are fairly rare, and listed on the ARBA Watch List.

Thank you to Gwen Brunelle for providing pictured of her Lilac rabbits!

Rex Rabbit

Weight: 7.5-10.5 lbs

Body Shape: Commercial

Colors: A variety of colors in both broken and solid

Personality/Temperament: Calm, docile, and social.

Defining Characteristic: Soft, plushy fur.

Rex rabbits were bred from wild rabbits with a strange fur gene. They were the first domestic breed to exhibit the rex gene, followed by the Mini Rex. Because of this, they have a short, plushy coat with few guard hairs. This gives them a unique, stuffed animal like look that their owners love. Like many breeds of their size, they are relaxed, interactive pets.

Thank you to @mlabuns for providing pictures!

Rhinelander

Weight: 6.5-10 lbs

Body Shape: Full arch

Colors: Black/orange tri-color, Blue/fawn tri-color

Personality/Temperament: Energetic, outgoing, and social.

Defining Characteristic: Tri-color pattern and energetic personality.

Originally created in Germany, Rhinelander rabbits were bred using Harlequin and English Butterfly Rabbits. The two breeds’ markings combined to create the spotted tri-color pattern present in these unique bunnies. They are full-arch rabbits, and need plenty of room to stretch their legs. Owners describe them as outgoing, curious, and energetic. They are a great choice for owners who are willing to put some extra effort into their rabbits housing and exercise time.

Thank you to DG’s Hops & Lops Rabbitry for providing pictures of their Rhinelander! Check out their instagram @dgs_hops_and_lops_rabbitry_

Satin Angora

Weight: 6.5-9.5 lbs

Body Shape: Commercial

Colors: A variety of solid colors

Personality/Temperament: Playful, social, and curious.

Defining Characteristic: Long, shiny Angora fur.

Satin Angoras are the product of Angora and Satin rabbits. The satin gene lessens the density of the wool, but adds the translucent sheen characteristic of satirized rabbits. They have a similar appearance to French Angoras, with short fur on their head and ears. As pets, they are curious and interactive, and should be provided with plenty of new toys and places to explore.

Thank you to @calico_and_fawn for providing pictures!

Silver Marten

Weight: 6-9.5 lbs

Body Shape: Commercial

Colors: Black, blue, sable, chocolate

Personality/Temperament: Playful, interactive, and curious.

Defining Characteristic: Tan pattern markings and glossy, solid coat.

Silver marten rabbits were created in an attempt to improve the color of Chinchilla rabbits by crossing them with Tans. The bunnies produced by this pairing were eventually recognized as their own breed, leading to the Silver Martens we know today. As pets, they are curious and interactive, but occasionally a bit timid.

Thank you to @fie_the_bunny for providing pictures!

Standard Chinchilla

Weight: 5-7 lbs

Body Shape: Commercial

Color: Chinchilla

Personality/Temperament: Friendly, gentle, and docile.

Defining Characteristic: Salt and pepper chinchilla coat.

Standard chinchillas originated in France. They were created through the breeding of Havanas, Himalayans, and Beverens. Rabbit owners loved the unique coloring, and they were imported to the US soon after. They are the first of the three Chinchilla breeds recognized by the ARBA, and were used in the creation of Giant and American chinchillas. They make great pets, and are usually docile and easy to handle.

Thank you to @meade_bunny_barn for providing pictures!

Thanks for reading! Feel free to send us pictures or a personality quote about your bunny!